(2/15/2008 6:45PM)
To all faculty and staff,
This is a terrible tragedy but as a NIU family we will get through this. My focus at this point is the CHHS family and what I can do to help each of you and our students. I know that you are following the postings on the NIU web site as will as press conferences and your e-mails. At this point I do not know if any of you know any of the injured or dead. We know that our students have friends who were present in the classroom. We do not know if CHHS majors were in the class. As time passes we will try to get this information. If you do know any of these people please let me know.
I have called a Senate meeting for this afternoon to discuss strategies for working with all of you to begin the healing and to assist you in coping with the student issues when the campus does re-open.
If you are being contacted by any of the media please refer the media to our public relations office and the press releases at Alltgeld hall. Of course the campus is over run with media. At the present time we do not know when the campus will re-open. There is to be some event tonight on campus so if you are interested please monitor the NIU web page.
We will have counselors in our family therapy area that are willing to meet with faculty and students. As well as there are other counselors available on the campus. If you have immediate needs, please let me know and I will help facilitate links for you and /or students.
Please feel free to e-mail me or call me directly ( 815-753-6155) or 815-761-9791 with your questions or if you need anything. I am open to any of your suggestions and ideas as we move forward. As you know communication will be important. We will also will be posting information on our CHHS web site.
I will be sending a message to all of our students soon.
We are all strong and we will get through this together. Take care.
Shirley Richmond
Dean
College of Health and Human Sciences